Ivan Penchev (violin) graduated from the Sofia school of music and the state music academy with Prof. Josiph Radionov. Since childhood he has been wining awards at national and international competitions including “Wieniavski”, “Kotzian”, “Sv. Obretenov” and others. He participated in master classes of Max Rostal, Vl. Spivakov, Svetlana Bezrodnaia, Bernhart Hartog. Since 1990 he has been placed in various positions including leader in many Bulgarian and international orchestras conducted by Cl. Abbado, Carl St. Claire, Rossen Milanov, N. Marriner, E. Tabakov and others.

Currently he is a member of the Sofia Philharmonics; he is the first violin of “Quarto Quartet” winning several competitions for chamber music - “250 years Mozart” in 2006, “Competition for Austrian music” in 2008, “Competition Goleminov” in 2008 and others.

He has been a soloist of several orchestras with concerts of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and others. Since 2006 he has been collaborating with Prof. Dimov their repertoire included sonatas of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Bartok and others.

Dimo Dimov (piano) graduated from the Sofia music school and the state music academy with Professors Julia and Constantine Ganev. He continued his education as their assistant. During 1983 – 4 he completed his education with Prof. Lilly Krauss in the United States. In 1970 he received first prize at the national competition “Stvetoslav Obretenov” he also received first prize at the “International competition for pianists in Athens in 1979”.

He has been praised by critiques and juries for his performances of Beethoven being compared with the performances of Sv.Richter. Dimo Dimov has been successfully performing as a soloist and in orchestras in Europe and in the United States. He conducted master classes in Greece from 1986 through to 1991. Currently Dimo Dimov is Prof. in piano at the state music academy Pancho Vladigerov.

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Biography

Founded as a piano quartet in 2005, Quarto Quartet is one of the most successful Bulgarian ensembles for classical and contemporary chamber music. Eventually, the ensemble expanded to include a second violin, a clarinet and a contrabass, which made it capable of performing versatile concert programs combining works for trios, string and piano quartets and quintets. Currently, the ensemble consists of Ivan Penchev (violin), Darina Vassileva (piano), Tatyana Todorova (viola), Dimitar Tenchev (cello), Svetlana Stancheva (violin), Silvet Salieva (contrabass) and Atanas Iliev (clarinet). Quarto Quartet is an official partner of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.
The main characteristics of Quarto Quartet’s signature style are compelling dramaturgical concepts, remarkable expressivity and unique scenic presence. Site: http://quartoquartet.com/?lang=en